St. Petronilla, Virgin
by VP
Posted on Saturday May 31, 2025 at 12:00AM in Saints
VIRGINITY.-Ancient authors recount that St. Petronilla was the daughter of St. Peter; that God had endowed her with great beauty, and that she was living at Rome in the practice of all virtues befitting Christian virgins, when she was asked for in marriage by a Roman knight named Flaccus. Petronilla, who had taken a vow to belong to God alone, being unable to free herself from his earnest importunity, begged for a delay of three days, in order that she might maturely weigh the matter. During this interval she prepared for death, and fervently prayed to God to withdraw her from this world. On the third day, indeed, she was found dead in the attitude of prayer. Whatever may be the truth of these details, which are withal adopted by the Martyrology, it is admitted that the veneration cherished for Petronilla is very ancient and wide-spread throughout the Church. There existed formerly on the Way of Ardea a cemetery, and a very famous monument dedicated in her name, which Pope Gregory III. had marked out as a station for pilgrims.
MORAL REFLECTION.-" Concerning virgins I have no commandment, but I give counsel that it is good so to be."-(1 Cor. vii. 25.)" Pictorial Half hour with the Saints by Abbe Lecanu
